Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of this production is not certain. The Dedication, signed by George Powell and John Verbruggen, is dated Monday, 16 Oct. 1696, but this date is in error, for the sixteenth fell on Friday in October; however, 16 Nov. 1696 fell on Monday. In addition, the Dedication implies that the two men hope to have visitors (i.e., spectators at performances) on "Wednesday, and Saturday next, the Visiting Days of, Your Friends and Servants, George Powell, John Verbruggen." It is possible that the text and the songs were printed in advance of performance and were available at the theatre, but it is still uncertain whether the opera first appeared in October or November 1696. The Single Songs, With the Dialogue, was published separately in 1696, with Daniel Purcel named as the composer. The songs to which performers' names are listed are as follows: Cease, Cynthia, cease your fruitless tears, sung by Mrs Cross. I courted and writ, the verse by Jo Hanes and sung by Church. How happy I am the fair sex can defy, the verse by Jo Hanes and sung by Leveridge. 'Tis in vain to tell me I am deceived, sung by Freeman. Great queen of Hymen's hallowed fires, sung by Mrs Willis. Why, Chloe, will you not perceive, the verse by John Robens and sung by Church. Why dost thou fly me, sung by Edwards and Mrs Cross. If mortals laugh and sing, sung by Freeman. The Songs were entered in the Term Catalogues, November 1696

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Man, 22-24 Dec. 1696, suggests that it was probably first given not later than November 1696. A song, If Celia you had youth and all, the music possibly composed by Leveridge, was published in A New Book of Songs by Mr Leveridge (advertised in the London Gazette, No. 3293, 3 June 1697). Gildon, English Dramatick Poets, p. 176: This Play was our Author's first; and as it was writ in a Month,...so it had the Fate of those untimely Births, as hasty a Death....If the Voice of the Town had not been influenc'd by the Ill Representation, it must have met with a less rigorous Censure. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702): Damn'd

Event Comment: Rich's Company. This performance was attended by Lady Morley. See Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The evidence for this date as the premiere of The Relapse is Jennens' report on 19 Nov. 1696 that Drury Lane expected to produce a new play on this date, coupled with the fact that Lady Morley saw this play on 25 Nov. 1696. The play was advertised in the Post Boy, 26-29 Dec. 1696. Preface, Edition of 1697: One word more about the Bawdy, and I have done. I own the first Night this thing was acted, some indecencies had like to have happen'd, but 'twas not my Fault. The fine Gentleman of the Play, drinking his Mistress's Health in Nants Brandy, from six in the Morning, to the time he wadled upon the Stage in the Evening, had toasted himself up, to such a pitch of Vigor, I confess I once gave Amanda for gone, and am since (with all due Respect to Mrs Rogers) very sorry she scap'd; for I am confident a certain Lady (let no one take it to herself that is handsome) who highly blames the Play, for the barenness of the conclusion, wou'd then have allowed it, a very natural Close. Gildon, English Dramatick Poets, p. 145: This Play was received with mighty applause. Cibber, Apology, I, 216: This Play (the Relapse) from its new and easy Turn of Wit, had great Success, and gave me, as a Comedian, a second Flight of Reputation along with it

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The fact that Lady Morley saw a performance on 25 Nov. 1696 and that the play was a success suggests a run of at least six performances

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the London Gazette, 18-21 Jan. 1696@7 (Luttrell acquired his copy, Huntington Library, 20 Jan. 1696@7) suggests that it was first given not later than December 1696. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), pp. 20-21, lists it among the "Masterpieces" on which Drury Lane "subsisted" in the early years after the separation of the theatres

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and ffower in the Box at Loves last Shift #1

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and three in the Box at Timon of Athens. 16s

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and two in the box at Esop. 12s

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 17-20 April 1697, suggests a premiere preceding Easter; in addition, the large number of minor actors suggests a Lenten performance, possibly in February, certainly no later than early March. One song, So fair young Caelia's Charms, the music by Daniel Purcell and sung by Mr Magnus's Boy, was printed separately in 1697. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 18: Triumphs of Vertue, tho' I think this no ill Play, yet 'twas Damn'd

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance of Part II is not known, but the fact that it was entered in the Term Catalogues, May 1697, suggests that it was probably acted before Easter

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this Performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and one att the Prophetesse 10s

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and two at the Indian Queen 15s

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and two in the Box at the Libertine 12s. [This play was reprinted in 1697, but the edition has no actors' names.

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and Three in the Box at Cinthia and Endimion 16s

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and two in the Box at Psyche 15s

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and one in the Box at Oroonoko 8s

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and one in the Box at Plott and noe Plott 8s. [There is no certainty that this performance is the premiere; since the play was advertised in the Post Man, 25-27 May 1697, the first performance may have been late April or very early May.] Preface, Edition of 1697: As for the Spectators, tho, by reason of the advanc'd Season, and the extremity of the heat, which when the Play was first acted was intolerable, we have not had such numerous assemblies as might have been expected in Winter; yet as long as I have known the Play-house I never saw the Company there in better humour. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), pp. 18-19: Ramble: Oh, that's Dennis's; and a very regular Farce, tho' he calls it a Comedy. Sullen: I think it did pretty well; 'tis laboriously Writ, as everything of his is: There's an Air of Formality in the Play agreeable to the slovenly Air in his Behaviour

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and two in the Box at Esopp 12s

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and one in the Pitt att the Tempest 3s

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and ffour in the Box att Don Sebastian #1

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and one in the Pitt at Lancashire Witches 2s. 6d

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and one in the Box att Sham Lawyer 8s. [There is no certainty that this performance was the premiere, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 26-28 June 1697 (Luttrell's copy, Huntington Library, bears his acquisition date of 24 June 1697) suggests that its premiere occured in late May.] Title Page, Edition of 1697: As it was Damnably Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury Lane

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the first performance is not precisely known, but the opera was in preparation on 15 June 1697. In addition, it was advertised in the Post Boy, 22-24 June 1697, that it would be published on 25 June 1697. As it was occasionally the custom of the theatres to have copies of operatic pieces available at the theatre for a performance, it is possible that the premiere occurred at the end of the week of 21-26 June 1697. Furthermore, a certain performance on 1 July 1697, a benefit for the "Undertaker" of it, probably the third performance, similarly suggests a premiere a few days earlier

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Lady Morley attended this performance. Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 377: Lady Morley and three in the Box att Indian Queen #1